Goddess…

What is even happening right now?

The sight before my eyes was so unreal and wrong that I couldn't believe it.

"Liber… and Anny, it's nice to see you—"

"Why are you in the hospital again?" Anny asked with a worried gaze, and then her eyes went to look at my left hand filled with fresh scars.

"And how did that happen? Are you alright?!"

"Anny, calm down… Let's first greet Asher. He looks alright, at least as healthy as he could be." Liber said, placing his hand on Anny's shoulder.

Then with a calm gaze, he turned to face me.

"How have you been, Asher?"

I sighed, my peace shattered. But I didn't hate this either; I smiled like I never had before, my tired gaze getting better as I spoke evenly.

"I am doing great." I paused, looking at my scars before adding. "See, all my limbs are still intact and in place."

Anny sighed and walked closer; she sat on the chair beside my bed while Liber took a seat in my bed.

"Should I take my leave then?"

A voice pulled our attention as we saw Nasi watching us carefully.

'I… had completely forgotten about her.'

Her presence sure was weak…

"Thank you for the help, Miss Nisa."

Nisa smiled and nodded before taking her leave.

As I saw her leave, my face turned serious. As the doors closed, I summoned something from my bracelet.

Anny and Liber gave it a confused look.

"Silence." I said it in ruinic, and then the effects appeared in the room, isolating all the sounds from going outside.

As the charm vanished, Anny asked.

"What was that?"

I chuckled and answered.

"A charm is a type of artifact with temporary powers. This one will not let our talk leak outside this room."

Seeing Liber gaze, asking for more, I added with a wry smile.

"I will teach you both later."

"Thanks."

He nodded with a small smile.

"Now… please tell me how you both are here. Last time I checked none of you were related to Temple."

Anny's smile froze as she gave me a serious look.

"Asher, we are sent here by Temple and also our will to tell you something very important."

My eyes narrowed as I heard Anny's small whisper.

"The house of Orgus and the house of Vali has pressed severe charges against you for murder… The temple requested us to inform you about this; although it's not official, they wanted you to be aware of it before the official letters arrive."

The cogs in my brain seemed to have stopped working as I looked at them in a daze.

"What? Murder? Whose murder are you even speaking of?"

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I shook my head rapidly.

"That's unbelievable! I don't even know who this house of Vali is and have never had any contact with them."

"We know, Asher, we know."

Anny squeezed my hand, taking me aback. The warmth of her hand spread through my limbs like the sun's light, calming my racing heart.

I sighed and waited as she let my hand go.

"Is this about Kina? After all this time they brought it up now?" I asked, seeking answers to my doubts.

But then why now?

And together with a house I have never heard of.

"Anny didn't say it but the charges are so outrageous that they are unbelievable… They said you killed the head of the house of Vali, a transcendent name, Antra. Does it ring a bell?"

"No. I clearly have never heard of someone with that name… And how am I supposed to kill a transcendent? Just fighting a beast has put me on stretchers!"

"That's why it doesn't make any sense. But well, noble houses are not known for their kindness. A transcendent being killed by an awakened no one would believe that but… the statement the House of Orgus gave is shocking."

I frowned, my brows raising higher.

"And what statements did they say that make this claim valid?"

Anny sighed as she listened to our conversation closely.

"Gram, the head of Orgus House, said his friend, after hearing the news regarding Kina's death was sad and vengeful; he had gone to Atlas shortly after, together with his servant Hugh, to kill you, Asher. But then he mysteriously died after coming in contact with you; even his servant had gone missing after his death."

'This… Does this make any sense?'

I placed one hand on my chin and closed my eyes, thinking deeply.

"So, I am also a criminal now?"

"No, it hasn't been proven yet." Liber shook his head, denying my words.

"But it will be soon… Is there anything else that I urgently need to know?" I sighed heavily and looked at them.

Their gaze remained fixed. A little heavy, if I were to say. But that was an outcome one could clearly notice; after all, they must have gone through several heated debates about what has actually happened.

"No… We told you everything we found out and have been told. There is this letter we were told to pass to you, but that's it. There is nothing else."

"I see. Thanks for all that you have done till now."

I said, taking the letter from his hand and placing it in my storage.

Liber just nodded his head, giving a worried look.

I will check it later.

Right now my mind was too tired to understand anything any further.

"Anyway, I will think about all this later. Nothing has happened right now, which means Temple must be doing something regarding this."

"I have the same guess, but still be careful from now on. We don't know what might happen."

I nodded, listening to Liber's advice.

"So much happened in the past few months… Asher, you have changed a lot, haven't you?"

Anny said.

She had stayed quiet till now, listening to our discussion. In her face a sad expression lingered for some time before she smiled slightly.

I stayed silent and smiled similarly to her.

"I don't think that's true… not entirely at least. I feel like I have returned to how I truly was in the past. But maybe such changes are not so bad after all; we all need to adapt to how the world treats us."

Anny chuckled.

"You sound like an old man."

"He does sound like that."

Liber placed a hand on his mouth, covering it as he laughed softly.

I rolled my eyes and started to ignore them as I fell into deep thoughts.

Even though I said not to think deeply, my mind wandered slightly as I found something oddly suspicious.

Why did the Temple send these two here?

They live in Saffron not Atlas… While it's true Saffron would be closer to Kalista in certain ways, I still couldn't see the reason for their presence here.

Temple… I'm sure it's planning something. But what? And most importantly, why?

The only issue at hand right now is the ongoing missing soldiers and for that, Temple has sent me here. So, why would they send these two here… They have no special contact with Temple except for being my close friends… Someone I could trust.

'I see so that's why… No, it's too early to decide. But it makes sense.'

I suddenly smiled, making Anny squint her big eyes at me in confusion.

"What happened, Asher? You are smiling… No, why are you grinning?"

I turned my head toward her and said evenly.

"I found the reason why the Temple asked me to go to Kalista."

This time both Anny and Liber raised their brows in confusion. They gave a curious gaze filled with anticipation before Liber asked.

"Really? What is it?"

I chuckled before speaking cheerfully.

"It's simple actually," I said, my grin refusing to fade. "They sent me here because… I'm special."

The silence that followed was heavier than any denial.

"Huh?"

Their faces froze as they let out a baffled sound.

"Have you, uh, Asher, are you alright? Did you hit your head?" Anny asked as politely as she could.

Her voice was filled with genuine concern and a hint of skepticism. I couldn't blame her; my statement was quite sudden.

But calling me crazy? That's a bit of a stretch.

"No, I have not hit my head and I will explain everything later. Are you both going to stay or leave?"

Anny looked at Liber who remained silent and buried deep in thoughts. Sensing her gaze, he gave her a warm smile before turning his gaze back at me.

"We seem to have been pulled into a big mess, Asher. And you are in the center of it. I would like to stay here actually; I have been asked to. But it's my own choice as well. I would like to see it till the end."

Liber spoke with determination in his eyes. Anny nodded her head in agreement.

"Alright, welcome to the 11th division, both of you... It's really nice to have you here, really."

I said with a smile on my face. It was a bit forced but it was real.

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